Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-01-05
Alas, how far it falls short Of the idea of
home SO beautifully and appropriately ex-
pressed by the poet -

home SO beautifully and appropriately ex-
pressed by the poet -
"Tis home where the wife in the glooming
doth wait,
For the dear welcome foot-step that's near
ing the gate.
Where the husband receives in his warm
manly pride.
A kiss from the woman he treats as
bride,
And by whom he is led to the chamber so
neat,
Where soft dainty slippers are waiting his
feet;
The true loving wife is caressed on his
knee,
And that home is an Eden. what home
ought to be-"
He sees others around on every hand
whom fortune has favored more than HIM
self-he sees his ideal of home and happi-
ness wherever he goes, and how often he is
forced to the conclusion that he is the cold
stranger whose presence mars the happiness
of some home rather than gives any one
pleasure.
Thus surrounded, the language Of an
other comes uncalled to his Eaind, and he
involuntarily exclaims =
"Alone on the wide world wanderer,
Unheeded, uncared for, roam.
1t matt ers not where my bark's driven,
There is no one to miss me at home"
How fortunate he is if somewhere there
is brighteyed maiden to whom he has
given the affections of his heart, and who
loves him in return, that the thought of
her may cheer him day after day as he
tolls at his vocation, and the cheering
thought that she too, is looking forward to
the day when his weeks work shall be
done, that they may see each other again
after SO many weary days of separation
But even this is often denied him. 1t may
be that he has suddenly been awakened
from the fond dream of his life to the sad
realization of tine still sadder fact that he
| is, indeed, alone, with no hope, no pros
poets, and no aspirations that he has
been all these days hugging the delusivs
phantom of hope, when. indeed, there was
10 hope, following a false beacon that led
to the shoals of disappointment, and at last
hurled him into the fearful vortex of dis
pair that his love is not reciprocated, and
| that her when he had eEthroned as his
| idol, and had for years almost wershiped.
did net and could not love him in return
To such an one the otherwise blissful
words, Saturday night falls on his ear
with harsh, discordent sound.
And it is at this particular time that so
many temptations beset his pathway. and
how few realize how many temptations
surround the path of ''him for whom no.
body cares" The barroom door stands in
willingly open to him, and he feels that he
is there, at least, welcome. The social
game of cards or billiards lures him on in
the vain hope that he may forget himself
for awhile, at least. And if he INDUCES to
excess, when he comes to himself again, he
is tormented by the flashing of conscience,
and not knowing where to find the true
balm, he rushes deeper into sin aud thus he
is ruined with none to help, pity, or sympa-
thize with him. But, my brother, do not,
l beg of you, give way to any such feeling.
l know what you suffer; how dark and
lowering the clouds that have gathered
around your pathway, and now you see no
silver lining as if the sun would never shine
through again. But rest assured that you
ever have ''Friend that stieketh closer
than brother" if you will but accept his
friendship that you are in the hands OF
one that is too wise to err and too just to be
unkind, and that your heavenly Fathers
care extends even to the falling of spar
row or the perishing of hair.
| 's'Tis not the heaviest grieefs,
For which we wear the willow;
| The tears bring slow relief
| Which only wet the pillow,